Video: Damien Jacobs hypes spring game

Allison Banko

04/02/2013

The hush of the offseason will finally get its chance to roar Saturday. Closed practices have stuck Florida grinding in the deafness of audience-less environment, and though the format of the spring game has changed, the Gators are still to flashing the progress they've so tirelessly been working toward.

"We go through all those practices pretty much in the quiet," defensive tackle Damien Jacobs said. "You try to find something that just motivates you every day. So when you get a couple people out there, it's definitely going to motivate you on Saturday."

Jacobs is currently positioned on the inside of the defensive line alongside Dominique Easley. The Gibson, La., native tallied 10 tackles and 2.5 sacks last season after spending 2010 and 2011 at East Mississippi Community College.

"Everything is night and day compared to JUCO," Jacobs said.

The 6'3, 286-pound senior said his amount of reps and conditioning has increased this spring, and collectively as a defensive line, the players are in good shape and just need to factor in the mental aspect of the game to stay consistent on the field.

Though the defensive line won't get an opportunity to face a full offensive line Saturday due to injuries, Jacobs attested to the impressive exertion of the opposing men throughout UF's spring practices.

"They've been going every play," Jacobs said. "The coaches expect them to go every play as long as they can, so we have to keep going every play along with them."

Despite the fact the Orange and Blue Debut will be more of an open-practice type of event, Jacobs stressed the Gators' excitement to simply play for an audience again.